Lighting fixture for elongated tubular lamps



Aug. 7, 1951 M. w. ASKIN 2, 3, 3

LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPS Filed July 18, 1947 2Sheet-Sheet 1 M. w. ASKIN LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPSFiled July 18, 1947 Aug. 7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jr zdezzivr' Jmrrw IM/4.9km F7 Patented Aug. 7, 1951 LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR ELONGATED TUBULARLAMPS Morris W. Askin, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application July 18, 1947, Serial No. 761,830

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a new and useful lighting fixture for elongatedtubular lamps and has for one of its objects to improve devices of thischaracter whereby several types of light shades or shields may bequickly and conveniently attached to or removed therefrom for changingcombination of colors, replacing old or broken shades and interchangingshades of various configurations, such as curved, fiat and angular.

Another object of the invention is to construct a light fixture which iseasy of operation, strong and durable although embodying simplicity instructural detail, and capable of being utilized as a wall bracket, ineither a vertical or horizontal position, and as a ceiling fixture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a light fixture to holda shade or light shield or a plurality thereof and produce subduedlighting effects which will also be pleasing in appearance.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of thedetails of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setforth and then designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describeits construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawing forming a part hereof, in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional elevationof a fixture constructed in accordance with my invention andillustrating one position of the curved type of shade or light shield asit is being placed in or removed from the fixture.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged inner face view of one end member of the fixture.

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof.

Fig. l is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an inner face view of another end member.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of an end member illustratinganother means for mounting the inner ring.

Fig. 7 is an inner face view of still another construction.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section thereof with the base in elevation.

Fig. 9 is an inner face view of a modified form of end member.

Fig. 10 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line ll-I I of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an inner face view of an end member of slightly dififerentconfiguration.

Fig. 13 is an inner face view of a modification of the type of endmember shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 14 is a side view thereof Fig. 15 is an inner face view of anotherstyle of end member.

Fig. 16 is a perspective View of a curved shade or light shield for usewith the different types of end members of the light fixture.

Fig. 17 is a similar view of a flat shade or light shield for use in alight fixture, either by itself or with others of like construction orwith one or more of the curved shades;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the fixture constructedfor use in connection with an incandescent light.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, reference being firsthad to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, wherein 28 represents an elongatedbox-like body of a light fixture having a small hollow casing 2| mountedin each end thereof and Supporting the socket 22 of a fluorescent lighttube 23, it being understood that the necessary electric conductors aresuitably attached to the sockets.

At each end of the body is mounted an end member 24, 24, Figs. 1-4. Whenthe fixture is used as a wall bracket, it is mounted in a vertical orupright position and the end member at is the bottom one while endmember 24' is the top one. These end members are alike or similar withthe exception that the end member 24 has a flange on'which a shade willrest while end member 24' is open at the back to permit the shade to bepushed through said end member 24' a short distance. Each end membercomprises a ring 25 of desirable width having a cut-away portion 26.This ring has a back wall 2! in the end member 24 preferably in the formof a flange, a portion of which provides a bridge 28 to maintain thering in its circular configuration, but in the end member 24' a portionof said flange is cut away or an opening is provided for the passage ofthe shade.

The ring is fixed to an upright 29 having a foot 3|] extending inward atright angles and provided with an opening 3| whereby the foot 30 may beslipped over the socket 22 to engage the casing 2!. The opening 3! isslightly wider than the thickness of the socket 22 so that the foot ismoved inward until it passes over the screw 32 and then said foot 30with associated parts is moved backward or outward until the edges ofthe notch 33 in the foot pass under the head of said screw 32. Upontightening the screw the parts will be detachably fastened together.

From the upright 25! extend a number of resilient fingers 34, 35 and 35on the inside of the ring to form with said ring suitable clamping meansto hold one or more curved shades or shields, such as shown in Fig. 16and to be later fully described, on the inside of the ring. Mounted onthe upright in back of the finger 35 is another resilient finger 3!which coacts with the outer surface of the ring to form another 3clamping means to removably and temporarily hold another light shade orshield of either curved or fiat formation.

In back of the finger 37 is mounted a plate 38 which is attached to theupright 29 by a rivet 39 and said plate has a number of resilientfingers M3, 4! and 32 formed thereon which project over and coact withthe outer surface of the ring 25 or other fingers, as where finger llcooperates with finger 31, to provide clamping means for one of thelight shades.

An arcuate shade or light shield 53, Figs. 1 and 16, of plastic or othersuitable material and of any desirable color and ornamentation ismounted between the two end members inside of the rings and held inplace by the clamping means comprised of one or more of the innerresilient fingers 3 35 and 36 of each end member and the respectivering. To place such a shade or light shield in position one end thereofis projected through an, end member, as the right hand one in Fig. 1,which will force the resilient fingers back sufficiently to permit theother end of the shade or shield to pass the inner edge of the oppositeend member. When the shade is properly aligned, it may be released andthe resilient fingers will slide it back into said other end member andinto contact with the back wall 2? thereby limiting the movements of theshade and supporting the latter when the fixture is used in an uprightor vertical position as a side wall appliance.

, In lieu of the above arrangement, an arcuate shade may be mountedbetween the end members by the clamping means comprised of one or moreof the outer resilient fingers 45, 42 and the outer annular surface ofthe respective rings.

If preferred, a straight or flat shade or shield M, Fig. 17, can bemounted on the end members between any of the clamping means comprisedof the outer resilient fingers ill, 37, 52 and the outer surfaces of therespective rings Or the clamping means consisting of the contiguousfingers 3i and 4!. Also a number of the arcuate shades or shields or anumber of the flat ones or a combination of both types can be used in asingle fixture to produce various effects or color schemes. Whentheshades or shields are used on the outside of the rings either set ofresilient fingers may be sprung outward for the insertion of one or bothends of said shades or shields.

, In Fig. 5 is shown one of a pair of end members 250. comprising anexternal ring 55 of desirable width having a cut away portion it toaccommodate the socket 22. Said external ring 45 has a back wall l?which holds the ring in its circular configuration and said back wallhas an arcuate concentric slot or aperture 53 adjacent the ring. Onlyone of the end members 24a is required to have the aperture 58 which isto permit an end of a shade to be projected through one end member toallow the other end of the shade to pass the ring of the opposite endmember when the shade is being assembled or removed.

The external ring 45 is fixed to an upright 49', which may be a part ofthe back wall 4?, and said upright has a foot 50 extending inward,relative to a complete fixture, at right angles to the upright and saidfoot has an opening, similar to the one shown in Fig. 4, whereby saidfoot may he slipped over the socket 22 to engage the casing 2|. 'Afterthe foot 50 rests on the casing a screw 5! is projected through a holein said foot and screwed into the casing to removably connect the parts.

An internal split ring 52 is located inside of the external one inconcentric spaced relation thereto, forming a clamping means with theexternal ring to hold an end of an arcuate shade or shield and legs 53project from said internal ring and are fastened to saidexternal ringfor holding the two together. On the back of the end member 24a ismounted a spring finger 54 which coacts with the outer surface of theexternal ring to form a clamping means that will hold an end of eitheran arcuate or fiat shade or shield.

The form of the end member 2422 illustrated in Fig. 6 is similar to thatdepicted in Fig. 5 and includes the external ring 55 provided with thecut away portion 58 to register with a socket 22 and has a back wall 57.Inside of said external ring is located an internal split ring 58 inspaced relation to said external ring through the major annular portionsthereof. The ends of the in ternal ring are drawn into contact with theinner surface of the external ring and fastened by suitable securingmeans 59, such as rivets. From the ends of said internal ring projectlegs 60 having a foot El formed therewith. In said foot 5| is formed abayonet slot =32 for registration with a screw 63 carried by the casing2! for detachably mounting the end member on said casing. On the backwall 51 is mounted a resilient finger 66 to clamp an end of a shade orshield between it and the outer surface of the external rm 1: Figs. 7and 8 I have shown still another form of end wall 2 0 in which there isan external ring 6 having a cut away portion 65 to fit over a socket andsaid ring has a back wall 65 with several apertures 51 providing acentral body portion es and a flange 69 in the region of the apertures.

Within the external ring 64 is located an internal split ring it inspaced concentric relation to said external ring through the majorannular portions thereof. The ends of the internal ring are drawn intocontact with the inner surface of the external ring and fastened bysuitable securing means ll, such as rivets. The two rings provide aclamping means to hold an end of an arcuate shade or shield and inaddition other clamping means are provided in the form of fingers l2, l3and M each of which has a portion projecting through an aperture 6'! andbent about the internal ring so as to be slidably adjustable on saidinternal ring within the limits of an aperture 577.

Two pins or posts 75 are mountedon a suitable part of the back plate 66and project forwardly from the inner face of said back wall and saidposts have heads is. The legs T1 of a support are slidably mounted onthe said posts and these legs carry a foot "it having an aperture 79 forregistration with a screw 80 mounted on the casing 2| for detachablyconnecting the end member to said casing. A spring 8| is mounted on eachpost between its head and a respective leg 1! of the support. Thesprings urge the posts forwardly carrying the rings and component partswith them but allow the rings to be forced rearwardly or outwardly toincrease the distance between the companion end members of a fixture toallow a shade or shield to be assembled or removed. Upon release of therings of either end member they will be returned to the normal positionby the springs and held against accidental displacement.

Another modification of end member 24d is illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and11 and includes a rim 82 of substantially triangular shape having anaperture 83 at the bottom to fit over a socket. From the rim projectlegs 84 carrying a foot 85 bridging the space between the legs and inthe inner edge of said foot is formed a notch 86 to register with ascrew on a casing as described in connection with some of the otherforms of the device. The rim has aback wall 81 formed therewith andextending across the space bounded by said rim. To some suitable part ofthe end member is fixed th shank 88 of a resilient finger 89 thatextends over and cooperates with the outer surface of a portion of therim.

On the shank 88 is mounted a key 90 including a handle SI and a tang 92which passes through an elongated key hole 98 in the back wall and canbe turned at right angles to said key hole to retain the finger 89 in anormal position for holding an end of a shade or shield in place on thefixture. By releasing the key tang from the key hole, the finger 89 canbe flexed outward and the end of a shade placed in position or removed,as the case may be, and the finger returned to normal position andfastened by the key.

A variation of the last described end member is shown in Fig. 12 anddesignated 24c, wherein rim M is generally triangular in shape with aback wall 99 extending across the space bounded by said rim. Tworesilient fingers 96 extend over that portion of the rim which forms thebase of the triangle and the shanks 9'! of said fingers converge towardsthe angle opposite the base and are secured in place by suitablefastening means 98, such as a rivet. Each shank carries a key 99,similar to the one previously described, including the tang I forprojection through an associated key hole IilI. To release the resilientfingers 96, the keys are turned until the tangs align with the key holesso the keys can be withdrawn from engagement with the back wall. Thefingers can then be flexed outward to allow removal or assembly of ashade on a fixture after which the fingers can be returned to normalpositions and held in place turning the keys until the tangs are atright angles to the key holes.

Another construction of an end member 24) is illustrated in Figs. 13.and 14, wherein the rim I02 is generally triangular in shape with a backwall I03 in the form of a fiange. A resilient finger I04 projects over aportion of the rim to form a clamping means with said portion of the rimand the shank I of said finger is fastened to some convenient part ofthe end member, as to a portion of the rim, by suitable securing meansI06, such as a rivet. To hold the resilient finger in normal shaderetaining position, a lip IN is provided by partially cutting a sectionof the back wall therefrom and bending said section outward a distanceequal to the thickness of the finger shank. When the shank is under thelip, the finger I04 will be held in temporary fixed position to form aclamping means in connection with the adjacent part of th rim.

To release the finger it is moved sidewise to spring the shank fromunder the lip I01 and flex the same outward. After this the end of ashade may be removed from or assembled on the end member and the fingermoved inward and the shank replaced under the lip.

A construction of end wall 24g is shown in Fig. wherein several clampingfingers are formed as a unit in connection with an end member and theunit held in a clamping position by a single means or key. In this formof the device, said end member 24g includes a rim I08 generallyrectangular in shape with bays I09 along one edge of the end member. Theparts of the rim are joined to a back wall IIO which occupies the spaceor area between all of the sections of the rim.

The resilient finger unit III includes several fingers I I2 each on ashank H8 which are joined to one another and the whole finger unitsecured to a convenient part of the end member, as a portion of the rim,by suitable securing means I I4, such as a rivet. The finger unit III isheld in a normal clamping position by a key ll I5, similar to the othersabove described, mounted on the finger unit and including a tang I I9which passes through a key hole II'i formed in the back wall iii A verywide shade or a number of narrow ones can be clamped and held inposition on a fixture having end members of this type.

The end members for releasably holding shades or shields can also beused in connection with incandescent lamps and for purposes ofillustration I have shown one of the end members 24 connected to thecasing 22 at one end of the body. Instead of the sockets to hold afluorescent tube or bulb, one or more sockets I !8 of a type to receiveincandescent bulb H9 is mounted on a bracket 129 secured to the body 28.When a shade or shades are mounted in the end members the incandescentbulb and supporting elements thereof will be invisible or practicallyso.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided end membersfor a lighting fixture that can receive and hold shades of variousconfigurations such as curved, rectangular, fiat and polygonal, and insome instances two or more shades can be used in combination to producepleasing effects of contrasting colored light arrangernents.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction herein shown and described as these may be varied withinthe scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:

A lighting fixture comprising a body, sockets to receive a fluorescentlight tube, an end member at each end of the body, each end memberincluding an upright, an apertured foot on said upright to pass over asocket, a ring secured to the front of said upright, said ring having aback wall, a plurality of resilient fingers secured to said upright andprojecting edgewise relative to said ring, some of which coact with theinner surface of the ring, the remaining ones coacting with the outersurface of the ring, said fingers forming clamps with the ring to hold ashade, and means on the body engaging the feet to detachably fasten theend members to said body.

MORRIS W. ASKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 517,889 Seberg et a1. Apr. 10,1894 1,997,687 Hoegger Apr. 16, 1935 2,169,347 MacMaster Aug. 15, 19392,315,884 Vendope Apr. 6, 1943 2,331,811 Sprecher Oct. 12, 19432,338,077 Scribner Dec. 28, 1943

